Julia Stiles Honors Heath Ledger in Emotional 'Dancing With The Stars' Tribute
The actress dedicated her dance to the late "10 Things I Hate About You" co-star, joined by former castmates, as the show featured a night of heartfelt performances.
Julia Stiles delivered an emotional tribute to her late "10 Things I Hate About You" co-star Heath Ledger on "Dancing With The Stars" during the show's sixth week, themed "Dedication Night." The performance, alongside professional partner Ezra Sosa, moved viewers and judges alike.
Stiles performed a contemporary routine to Frankie Valli's "Can't Take My Eyes Off You." At the conclusion of her dance, a picture of Stiles and Ledger from their 1999 film appeared on screen. She was then joined by several "10 Things I Hate About You" castmates, including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan, Gabrielle Union, and Susan May Pratt, for an embrace in Ledger's honor. Stiles reflected on her friendship with the actor, stating, "I learned a lot from Heath. It was so easy with him." The pair received a score of 36 out of 40 from the judges.
Social media users reacted strongly to the tribute, with many expressing that they were brought to tears. Comments on X highlighted the poignancy of the performance, with one user writing, "The Julia Stiles trib[ute] to Heath Ledger on DWTS...I'm in bits." Another shared, "JULIA STILES DEDICATING HER DANCE HEATH LEDGER AND THE 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT U CAST IS THERE IM STILL CRYING."
The episode featured several other deeply personal performances. Olympic figure skater Amber Glenn danced a contemporary routine dedicated to her sister, Brooke, who supported her through battles with depression and anxiety. Glenn and her partner Pasha Pashkov performed to Sia's "Breathe Me" and received a score of 38 out of 40.
Jenna Dewan performed a Viennese Waltz with Alan Bersten, who stepped in for Val Chmerkovskiy. Dewan dedicated her dance to her mother, Nancy, and received a score of 37 out of 40. Ezra Frech and Daniella Karagach performed a contemporary dance for Frech's mother, Bahar, earning 37 out of 40. Harry Shum Jr. and Jenna Johnson danced a foxtrot dedicated to Shum's wife, Shelby, with his parents and daughter joining him on stage for the performance. They scored 36 out of 40.
Other dedications included Jackson Olson honoring his mother, Maura Higgins dedicating her routine to Ireland, and Tatyana Ali paying tribute to her late "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" co-star James Avery. Alfonso Ribeiro, who also starred on "The Fresh Prince," joined Ali for a moment during her Viennese Waltz.
Tyler Cameron dedicated his contemporary routine to his late mother and all mothers, announcing during his performance with Sharna Burgess that he and his fiancée, Tate Madden, are expecting their first child. The couple revealed they are having a baby girl live on air. Cameron and Burgess received a score of 32 out of 40.
Connor Wood dedicated his Viennese Waltz to his father, Pete, and was recognized as the "most improved" dancer, scoring 32 out of 40. In a surprising turn, it was announced that there would be no eliminations, with all 10 remaining couples advancing to the next week. The upcoming episode is scheduled for October 27 and will feature a "Horror Movie Night" theme.